Stefani makes the most of evolution from punk gal

Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, May 3, 2007

First time I saw Gwen Stefani, her band No Doubt had just had its first flush of success in the mid-'90s. It was a benefit at the Hollywood Palladium and Stefani bounced around the spare stage to her band's ska-punk sound, closing out the show with a spirited cover of the Beatles' Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da. No frills.

Wednesday night it was a sports arena respectably full of fans for Stefani's second solo tour. The show began with police officers chasing Stefani's convict- garbed dancers throughout the arena to the tune of Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello (a Stefani favorite) before she burst out of a prison cell onstage to sing The Sweet Escap-e - a Madonna- meets-Heartbreak Hotel moment.

Her evolution from punk gal to a near-Madonna has been gradual and somehow makes sense; Stefani has grown as a person and artist over the years and it continues to feel like natural steps rather than a forced makeover. She can have all the costume changes and breakdancers in the world, but her persona still comes through.

The Pepsi Center show was pure spectacle and dance-pop music - like a Britney Spears show, but where the singer actually sang. The production was stunning, what with the trampolines, geishas and all. But it wasn't really needed.

Stefani easily held her own, alone, center-stage with ballads like 4 in the Morning, which echoes music made with her old band.That's as close as it got, however, with Stefani sticking to solo material and a warm connection with the audience.

Songs like the hit Hollaback Girl are no-brainers for the crowd, but even material such as Early Winter kept the adoring crowd rapt and happy.

Her voice and range has expanded far past the early days. It's not the place fans would have guessed she'd end up 10 years ago, but no one's complaining.

Live onstage, Akon isn't nearly as generic as he comes across in the studio. Blessed with a real voice he sang a cappella at times and had strong chemistry with DJ Benny D, who nearly stole the show with his over-the-top energy, working the crowd into a frenzy with snippets of Kelly Clarkson and Black Eyed Peas before Akon finally took the stage.

British female singer/rapper -Lady Sovereign is getting better; she didn't live up to her early reputation as a spotty performer. However, an arena isn't a club. What looks good on a small stage or YouTube can't translate and captivate a big crowd, even with the use of the big screen and effects.

Gwen Stefani with Akon and Lady Sovereign

• When and where: Wednesday night, Pepsi Center

• Grade: B-

brownm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2674